Hybrid tea rose plant cv. Arofrap

ABSTRACT

A new hybrid tea rose for garden decoration, having as its seed parent Angel Face (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,792) and as its pollen parent First Prize (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,774). The new cultivar produces an unusual flower color combination of tan centers surrounded by bright pink outer petals. It grows vigorously, displaying an abundance of deep green, semi-glossy foliage. Removal of old blooms to maintain a continual production of flowers during the growing season is not required as the plant is unable to set hips.

This invention relates to a new variety of hybrid tea rose cv. Arofrap.The plant is a half-hardy, outdoor seedling of medium height, cultivatedfor garden decoration. It was first propagated by Herbert C. Swim andJack E. Christensen in Ontario, Calif., having as its seed parent AngelFace (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,792) and as its pollen parent First Prize(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,774).

Arofrap may be distinguished from other presently commercialized rosecultivars by the following combination of characteristics: its unusualflower color combination of tan centers surrounded by bright pink outerpetals; its abundant production of classically formed flowers; itsvigorous growth, unusual among rose cultivars with tan flowercoloration; its abundance of deep green, semi-glossy foliage thatattractively clothes the plant; and its inability to set hips, whichpermits the plant to maintain a continual production of flowers duringthe growing season without requiring the removal of old blooms. The newvariety holds its distinguishing characteristics through succeedingpropagations by budding.

This new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, Angel Face(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,792), by the following combination ofcharacteristics: Angel Face produces flowers of a blendedmedium-lavender coloration, whereas the new rose produces flowers of apink and tan coloration, essentially as described and illustratedherein. The seed parent is classified as a hybrid floribunda, whereasthe new cultivar is classified as a hybrid tea. Angel Face producesflowers with about 30 wavy petals, whereas the new rose produces flowerswith significantly more (35 to 40) broad petals. Arofrap producesflowers of 4 to 41/2 inches in diameter, whereas the seed parentproduces significantly smaller flowers of 31/2 to 4 inches in diameter.

The new cultivar Arofrap may be distinguished from its pollen parent,First Prize (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,774), by the following combination ofcharacteristics: First Prize produces flowers of a blended pinkcoloration, whereas the new cultivar produces flowers of a pink and tancoloration, essentially as described and illustrated herein. The pollenparent produces flowers with about 30 petals, whereas Arofrap producesflowers of significantly higher petalage (35 to 40 petals). Whereas thenew rose produces flowers of a 4- to 41/2-inch diameter, First Prizeproduces significantly larger blooms of 5 to 6 inches in diameter.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the new variety in color as grownin Ontario, Calif., and shows the flowering thereof from bud to fullbloom.

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color as used in common speech is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based on The R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The RoyalHorticultural Society of London, England.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to roses grown in Ontario,Calif., and is believed to apply to similar conditions of soil andclimate elsewhere.

FLOWER

The new variety bears its flowers sometimes singly, sometimes 3 to 5flowers per stem, in regular, rounded clusters on normal to strong stemsof medium length for the class. Outdoors, the plant blooms nearlycontinuously and in abundant quantities throughout the growing season.It has a moderate tea to fruity fragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is of average length for the class and of average caliper,strong and erect. It is entirely smooth and has a color betweenYellow-Green 144A and Green 136A.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is of medium size for the class and ofmedium length, pointed and ovoid in form, with few hairs and stipitateglands on its surface. There are usually slender foliaceous partsextending beyond the tip of the bud equal to one half or more of itslength.

As the calyx breaks, the color of the bud is between Red-Purple 60A andRed-Purple 59C. The inner surface of the sepals has a fine, woollytomentum; the sepal margins are lined with hairs.

As the first petal opens, the bud is average in size for the class, ofmedium length and pointed to ovoid in form. On the outside of the petalsis a small basal attachment zone near Yellow 7B which quickly suffusesto between Red 53D and Red-Purple 59C. On the inside of the petals is alarge basal attachment zone near Yellow 7B which slowly suffuses tobetween Red 55B and Red-Purple 64C. The bud opens up well and is notprevented from opening by cold, hot, wet or dry weather.

BLOOM

The size of the bloom when fully open is average for the class, rangingfrom 4 to 41/2 inches in diameter. The petalage is double with from 35to 40 petals and from 4 to 8 petaloids, with petals arranged regularly.Bloom form when half open is moderately high-centered to cupped; thepetals are moderately spiraled, with petal edges somewhat reflexedoutward. When fully open, the bloom is moderately cupped, with petalsmore loosely cupped; petal edges are moderately reflexed outward.

The petals are of moderately heavy substance, of medium thickness, withslightly shiny to satiny insides and shiny outsides. The outside petalsare nearly round to broadly ovate, with rounded apices. The intermediatepetals are broadly obovate with rounded apices. The inside petals arenearly obovate with irregular edges. Petal colors may be modified bybeing bordered or blotched or shaded or washed or tinted with othercolors.

The paragraph immediately following describes the color values observedin a flower newly opened in the month of October. The plant describedhad been grown outdoors in Ontario, Calif.

The outside surface of the outside, intermediate, and inner petals has asmall basal attachment zone near Yellow 7B, and the remainder of thepetal surface quickly suffuses to between Red 54B and Red-Purple 61D.The inside surface of the outside petals has a large basal attachmentzone near Yellow 7B, and the remainder of the petal surface slowlysuffuses to between Red 55B and Red 51C. The inside surface of theintermediate petals has a large basal attachment zone near Yellow 7B,and the remainder of the petal surface slowly suffuses to betweenGreyed-Red 179D and Red 38D; petal edges may be blushed with between Red55B and Red 51C. The inside surface of the inner petals has the samecolor as the inside surface of the intermediate petals but withoutblushing near the petal edges.

The paragraph immediately following describes color values observed in abloom which had been open for three days in the month of October. Theplant described had been grown outdoors in Ontario, Calif.

The outside surface of the outside and inside petals has a small basalattachment zone near Yellow 7D, and the remainder of the petal surfacequickly suffuses to between Red 55C and Red-Purple 62A. The insidesurface of the outside and inside petals has a large basal attachmentzone near Yellow 7C, with the remainder of the petal surface slowlysuffusing to between Red 49C and Red 56A; some petal edges blush tobetween Red-Purple 57D and Red 55B.

The general color effect of the newly opened flower is between Red 55Band Red 51C at the outermost petals, and between Greyed-Red 179D and Red38D at the innermost petals. After being open three days, the bloomgives a general color effect which is predominantly between Red 49C andRed 56A, with some petal edges washed with between Red-Purple 57D andRed 55B. The petals usually drop off cleanly and are not particularlyaffected in this respect by hot, wet, or dry weather.

In October, roses grown in the garden last on the bush from 4 to 5 days.Flowers cut from plants grown outdoors in the month of October will lastfrom 4 to 5 days at living-room temperatures.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

There are few to an average number of stamens arranged regularly aboutthe pistils. Filaments are medium to long in length, and most haveanthers. The anthers are of medium size, and all open approximately atonce. Their color when immature is near Yellow-Orange 15B and nearGreyed-Orange 166A when mature. Pollen is somewhat sparse in quantityand near Yellow-Orange 15D in color.

Pistils are average to many in number (approximately 60). The styles areuneven, average in length to long, of average caliper, and somewhatloosely bunched. The stigma is near Yellow 4B in color.

This variety does not normally set hips under Ontario, Calif. growingconditions.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are borne in abundant quantities and usuallycomprise from three to five leaflets. The leaves are of medium size forthe class, moderately heavy and semi-glossy in appearance. The leafletsare ovate in shape and have acute apices and round bases. Their marginsare simply serrate.

The upper surface of the mature foliage is between Yellow-Green 147A andGreen 133A in color; its under surface is between Yellow-Green 147B andGreen 138B. The upper surface of the young foliage is betweenGreyed-Purple 187A and Greyed-Purple 187B in color, and the undersurface is between Greyed-Purple 187C and Greyed-Purple 187D.

The rachis is of average size, grooved on its upper side, and with fewstipitate glands on the edges. The underside of the rachis is sparselyprickly with some stipitate glands.

The stipules are of medium length, medium in width to wide withmoderately long points, usually turning out at an angle of more than45°.

The plant displays an average resistance to mildew, rust and blackspotas compared to other commercial varieties of roses grown undercomparable conditions in Ontario, Calif.

GROWTH

The plant is of medium height, bushy and upright to spreading in habit,and much branched. It displays very vigorous growth. The canes are ofmedium caliper for the class.

The main stems are between Yellow-Green 146C and Green 133B in color.They bear a few large prickles which are of medium length for the class;there are almost straight to hooked, angled slightly downward, and havebroad bases of medium length. Large prickle color is betweenGreyed-Orange 166C and Greyed-Orange 165C. There are very few smallprickles and no hairs on the main stems. Small prickles are of the samecolor as the large prickles.

The branches are of a color between Yellow-Green 146B and Green 133A.They bear very few large prickles, which are of medium length for theclass; like the large stem prickles, these are almost straight tohooked, angled slightly downward, and have broad bases of medium length.Their color is near Greyed-Yellow 162B. The branches have no hairs andvery few small prickles of a color near Greyed-Yellow 162B.

New shoots are between Yellow-Green 146B and Green 133B in color, washedheavily with near Greyed-Purple 187A. They bear very few large prickles,which are of medium length for the class. The large prickles are almoststraight to hooked and angled slightly downward, with broad bases ofmedium length; large prickle color is near Greyed-Purple 187B. The newshoots have no hairs and a few small prickles near Greyed-Purple 187B incolor.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the hybrid teaclass, substantially as herein shown and described, being particularlycharacterized by its unusual flower color combination of tan centerssurrounded by bright pink outer petals; its abundant production ofclassically formed flowers, its vigorous growth, unusual among rosecultivars with tan flower coloration; its abundance of deep green,semi-glossy foliage that attractively clothes the entire plant; and itsinability to set hips, which permits the plant to maintain a continualproduction of flowers during the growing season without requiring theremoval of old blooms.